Fire District To Examine Claim Of Bias

August 30, 2000|By Tim Kane.

CARY — The Cary Fire Protection District Board of Trustees will discuss Thursday a complaint filed by a part-time female firefighter who is asking for more benefits.

The board is part of a new process adopted in May in the wake of sexual harassment and discrimination complaints filed by two former female firefighters with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said Bob W. Trevarthen, attorney for the district. Whereas such complaints in the past stopped at the chief, they are now forwarded to trustees for review, Trevarthen added.

Other changes in procedure included establishing a peer review board to field sexual harassment complaints. Trevarthen said no changes were made to the text of the sexual harassment and discrimination policies, but the department will more strictly enforce them.